NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SEQUELAE OF CEREBRAL MALARIA IN VIETNAM VETERANS

Approximately 250,000 Vietnam veterans suffered cerebral malaria, an i llness that often results in damage to subcortical white matter and fr onto-temporal areas of neocortex. Case reports dating back 2500 years indicate that survivors of cerebral malaria show depression, poor memo ry, personality change, and irritability/violence. The purpose of the present study was to compare the neuropsychiatric status of Vietnam ve terans who had suffered cerebral malaria in the remote past (i.e., 196 6 to 1969) with that of Vietnam veterans wounded in combat who had not suffered malaria or other neurological conditions. Findings indicate that cerebral malaria results in multiple, major, substantially undera ppreciated neuropsychiatric symptoms in Vietnam veterans, including po or dichotic listening, ''personality change,'' depression, and, in som e cases, partial seizure-like symptoms. Findings strongly suggest that history of malaria should be considered in any medical, psychological , or psychiatric workup of a Vietnam War veteran because a positive re sponse could result in substantial changes in diagnosis and treatment.